Using Electronic Health Record Data to Study Latino Immigrant Populations in Health Services Research

We presented them with a list of patients (masked to the interviewer) with whom they had worked, and asked them to indicate patient ’s immigration status, if they recalled it. We analyzed the correspondence between staff knowledge and our EHR algorithm. Staff described routine conversations with patients about immigration status. The EHR algorithm had fair agreement (66.2%, 95% CI 57.3–74.2) with staff knowledge. When the st aff were more confident of their assessment, agreement increased (77.6%, 95% CI 63.4–88.2). The EHR has potential for studying immigration status in health services research, although more study is needed to determine the accuracy and utility of EHRs for this purpose.
Source: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research